# Reviewing the $13 obd2 scanner.
**URL:** https://forums.speedlife.net/t/reviewing-the-13-obd2-scanner/227358
**Category:** NYSpeed Automotive
**Created:** [November 21, 2012, 3:12pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/reviewing-the-13-obd2-scanner/227358 "2012-11-21T15:12:39Z")
**Posts on this page:** 18
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@JustinH](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/JustinH)
#### Post date: [November 21, 2012, 3:12pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/reviewing-the-13-obd2-scanner/227358/1 "2012-11-21T15:12:39Z")
[http://www.ebay.com/itm/160881093493?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&\_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649](http://www.ebay.com/itm/160881093493?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649)
I bought one of these on ebay a few weeks back. I have been playing with it. Shut off a code in the wifes car, which ended up to be an evap code. I had to replace the gas cap also.
There are a ton of apps for android that work with this device. The one I like best is called Torque. It basically does datalogging, and stuff very similar to what a $2500 snap on machine does. With a big screen, this would be real nice (maybe an android tablet)
It works wirelessly over bluetooth using your android cell phone. Most of the apps are free, some are like 5 bucks for a pro version. I didn’t have a need for a pro version.
At the very least it beats paying someone to read a code for you, or riding up to autozone to let one of the parts jockeys do it for you.
13 bucks.
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### Author:  [@BadnewsMike](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/BadnewsMike)
#### Post date: [November 21, 2012, 5:29pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/reviewing-the-13-obd2-scanner/227358/2 "2012-11-21T17:29:30Z")
any idea if this will work with an iphone?
i see a similar one that says it does:
> **[ELM327 WIFI OBD2 OBDII Wireless Car Diagnostic Reader Scanner Adapter for iPhone...](https://www.ebay.com/itm/ELM327-WIFI-OBD2-OBDII-Wireless-Car-Diagnostic-Reader-Scanner-Adapter-for-iPhone-/150875334132?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2320dee5f4)**
>
> ELM327 WIFI OBD2 OBDII Wireless Car Diagnostic Reader Scanner Adapter for iPhone | Consumer Electronics, Vehicle Electronics & GPS, Car Electronics Accessories | eBay!
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### Author:  [@livin4hockey](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/livin4hockey)
#### Post date: [November 21, 2012, 10:15pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/reviewing-the-13-obd2-scanner/227358/3 "2012-11-21T22:15:14Z")
^^^I would be interested in that as well if anyone has input.
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### Author:  [@Spam16v](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Spam16v)
#### Post date: [November 22, 2012, 6:46am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/reviewing-the-13-obd2-scanner/227358/4 "2012-11-22T06:46:05Z")
I use the Android version of torque all the time. It’s still generic, but is awesome for readiness monitor drives.
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### Author:  [@JayS](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/JayS)
#### Post date: [November 22, 2012, 11:29am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/reviewing-the-13-obd2-scanner/227358/5 "2012-11-22T11:29:28Z")
I have a cheap on now but the idea of having it connect to my phone via BT sold me. Sent the link to my wife as an xmas idea. 🙂
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### Author:  [@ZOMGVTEK](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ZOMGVTEK)
#### Post date: [November 22, 2012, 5:33pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/reviewing-the-13-obd2-scanner/227358/6 "2012-11-22T17:33:34Z")
They do not work on iOS due to BT stack limitations inbuilt to the OS.
IIRC someone got this to work with a jail broken device, a full BT stack, and some sort of tweak. You need a WiFi OBD II module for use with iOS. You can get them ‘inexpensively’, but still considerably more costly than the ELM 327’s.
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### Author:  [@livin4hockey](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/livin4hockey)
#### Post date: [November 23, 2012, 11:00am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/reviewing-the-13-obd2-scanner/227358/7 "2012-11-23T11:00:30Z")
So you’re saying this wouldn’t work with an iphone? Sorry I just am a noob with this tech stuff. Everything in the listing that BadnewsMike posted indicates that it would.
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### Author:  [@ZOMGVTEK](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ZOMGVTEK)
#### Post date: [November 23, 2012, 9:03pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/reviewing-the-13-obd2-scanner/227358/8 "2012-11-23T21:03:35Z")
The WiFi units will, not the Bluetooth.
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### Author:  [@BuickGN](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/BuickGN)
#### Post date: [November 24, 2012, 6:50am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/reviewing-the-13-obd2-scanner/227358/9 "2012-11-24T06:50:28Z")
Bought the same one, using it with torque.
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### Author:  [@turbo\_dreams](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/turbo_dreams)
#### Post date: [November 24, 2012, 6:59am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/reviewing-the-13-obd2-scanner/227358/10 "2012-11-24T06:59:01Z")
I have the same one as well, using it with torque, great little device, tons of capabilities with torque as well.
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### Author:  [@Coldaccord](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Coldaccord)
#### Post date: [November 24, 2012, 7:17pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/reviewing-the-13-obd2-scanner/227358/11 "2012-11-24T19:17:48Z")
call me when it gets abs and srs capability
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### Author:  [@Spam16v](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Spam16v)
#### Post date: [November 25, 2012, 7:24am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/reviewing-the-13-obd2-scanner/227358/12 "2012-11-25T07:24:37Z")
> [@Coldaccord](#):
>
> call me when it gets abs and srs capability
considering how often those protocols change, don’t hold your breath. OBD2 is here for a while
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### Author:  [@LZ1](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/LZ1)
#### Post date: [November 25, 2012, 7:32am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/reviewing-the-13-obd2-scanner/227358/13 "2012-11-25T07:32:24Z")
> [@Coldaccord](#):
>
> call me when it gets abs and srs capability
Lets compare a $13 consumer product to something that costs $2000+ that a shop would own lol
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### Author:  [@iwanagofast1](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/iwanagofast1)
#### Post date: [November 25, 2012, 10:00am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/reviewing-the-13-obd2-scanner/227358/14 "2012-11-25T10:00:16Z")
> [@Spam16v](#):
>
> considering how often those protocols change, don’t hold your breath. OBD2 is here for a while
OBD3 is already out.
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### Author:  [@Spam16v](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Spam16v)
#### Post date: [November 25, 2012, 10:08am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/reviewing-the-13-obd2-scanner/227358/15 "2012-11-25T10:08:28Z")
> [@iwanagofast1](#):
>
> OBD3 is already out.
Correct, but unless they are fggts like Sony, it will have to be backwards compatible.
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### Author:  [@Coldaccord](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Coldaccord)
#### Post date: [November 25, 2012, 12:28pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/reviewing-the-13-obd2-scanner/227358/16 "2012-11-25T12:28:25Z")
heh, I’m just saying we already have cheap scan tools. I need cheap communication with more #firstworldproblems
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### Author:  [@LZ1](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/LZ1)
#### Post date: [November 25, 2012, 12:33pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/reviewing-the-13-obd2-scanner/227358/17 "2012-11-25T12:33:18Z")
> [@Coldaccord](#):
>
> heh, I’m just saying we already have cheap scan tools. I need cheap communication with more #firstworldproblems
It’s kinda surprising nobody has written a open source tool.
However I think each car companies ABS/whatever is proprietary and not standardized like OBDII
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### Author:  [@Spam16v](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Spam16v)
#### Post date: [November 25, 2012, 1:03pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/reviewing-the-13-obd2-scanner/227358/18 "2012-11-25T13:03:33Z")
> [@Coldaccord](#):
>
> heh, I’m just saying we already have cheap scan tools. I need cheap communication with more #firstworldproblems
My dick would be just as hard, $3-400 options with truck branded tools right now is the best for basic abs so far